Trapping Continues Like It's 1899

Since the furbearer rules were last reviewed in 2006, New Mexico has killed more bobcats than any other western state, over 10,600 between the years 2006 and 2009. (Last winter’s figures have not been tallied) An outbreak of rabies has cut a swath through fox populations on the Arizona border spilling into bobcats as well. This area is also the most heavily trapped for foxes in the entire state and this exploitation and disease are both ongoing. Heavy snows this past winter across the state have doubtless added to mortality. In addition, at least 3 Mexican wolves, arguably the most endangered mammal in North America, have lost limbs as a result of inadvertent capture and injury in leg-hold traps. Only one is still alive and it represents 7% of the entire New Mexico population which is down to only 15 animals.
Not only is New Mexico failing to protect endangered wolves from traps, we are not monitoring the intended target animals for harmful effects to their populations either. It is easy to claim there is no evidence of problems when there is no evidence at all. Under similar market conditions, states that are monitoring their populations have tightened restrictions that include lower bag limits, lower quotas and shorter seasons. There is no bag limit on any furbearer in NM and our bobcat season is the longest in the west.
Despite repeated requests of the State Game Commission and NM Game and Fish since August of 2009 to examine the furbearer rules, the review will not be opened until December of 2010. Unlike other game species, this opening has no timeline or requirement that the review ever be completed. There is no requirement that meaningful decisions be made in a timely manner either. And even if they are, the soonest that any new rules to better protect these species could be implemented is the winter of 2012-2013; fully 6 years since the last review. Until then, the numbers of our wildlife that die at the hands of trappers will be solely dictated not by biology or empirical data but by financial conditions on the other side of the world and currency inequalities that allow inflated prices to be paid for their pelts.
To receive updates about how to help our small carnivores and other ‘furbearers’ please send your email address to mkrscrim@kitcarson.net.

Photo: A ‘trap circle’ created by the futile struggles of a captured animal in the attempt to escape the radius of the trap chain. For more on how New Mexico’s trapping rules compare with other states and a tally of the animals killed here over the last few seasons, please go to http://nmsierraclub.org/trapping-reform-in-New-Mexico